Anais Nin
1977
Around 250 pages
We've had some wild justifications on this List from people who have written erotica. But Anais Nin might top them all. Delta of Venus was a collection of short stories written for a private client known simply as "Collector". The "Collector" commissioned Nin, along with other well-known writers (including Henry Miller), to produce erotic fiction for his...erm...private use. His identity has since been revealed as Roy M. Johnson, a rich American businessman who had discovered the Healdton Oil Pool. There are definitely worse ways to spend your money.
Erotica is willing to go places other genres won't, so I don't dismiss it completely. That being said, I certainly don't enjoy reading the more disgusting entries on this List. This collection had its share of upsetting content, but hey, Mr. Johnson wouldn't have been satisfied with anything else.
Nin could have phoned this one in for her wealthy patron, but she's so talented that she can't help but add literary flourish to some very graphic descriptions. I am definitely interested to read more of her work that wasn't written for a rich lecher.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Interesting Facts:
Adapted into a film in 1994.
She jokingly referred to herself as "the madam of this snobbish literary house of prostitution, from which vulgarity was excluded."
UP NEXT: The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter
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